Penetration Testers Career, Salary and Skills
Penetration Testers have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $116,580 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 435,370. Wage data is published for 396 locations.
Occupation description
Evaluate network system security by conducting simulated internal and external cyberattacks using adversary tools and techniques. Attempt to breach and exploit critical systems and gain access to sensitive information to assess system security.
O*NET code
15-1299.04
Job zone
4
Typical education
Not recorded
Experience
Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years
National salary and employment
Median annual
$116,580
Hourly median
$56.05
Employment
435,370
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Critical Thinking | 4.38 | 4.38 |
| Writing | 4.00 | 4.12 |
| Reading Comprehension | 4.00 | 4.50 |
| Programming | 3.88 | 4.12 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.88 | 3.88 |
| Active Listening | 3.88 | 4.00 |
| Systems Evaluation | 3.62 | 4.12 |
| Active Learning | 3.62 | 4.12 |
| Monitoring | 3.50 | 3.88 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.50 | 4.12 |
Typical tasks
- Document penetration test findings.
- Identify security system weaknesses, using penetration tests.
- Write audit reports to communicate technical and procedural findings and recommend solutions.
- Gather cyber intelligence to identify vulnerabilities.
- Maintain up-to-date knowledge of hacking trends.
- Keep up with new penetration testing tools and methods.
- Identify new threat tactics, techniques, or procedures used by cyber threat actors.
- Test the security of systems by attempting to gain access to networks, Web-based applications, or computers.
Technology
- Amazon Web Services AWS software
- Ansible software
- Apple iOS
- Apple macOS
- Bash
- C
- C#
- C++
- Database management systems
- Docker
- Firewall software
- Ghidra
- GitHub
- Go
Penetration Testers salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Penetration Testers Salary in CAMedian $134,440 · Employment 80,150
- Penetration Testers Salary in TXMedian $111,530 · Employment 57,020
- Penetration Testers Salary in GAMedian $104,610 · Employment 20,630
- Penetration Testers Salary in Los Angeles, CAMedian $109,700 · Employment 20,060
- Penetration Testers Salary in Dallas, TXMedian $127,360 · Employment 19,540
- Penetration Testers Salary in MDMedian $144,680 · Employment 19,060
- Penetration Testers Salary in DCMedian $156,590 · Employment 17,200
- Penetration Testers Salary in VAMedian $139,030 · Employment 17,000
- Penetration Testers Salary in San Francisco, CAMedian $161,700 · Employment 16,930
- Penetration Testers Salary in San Jose, CAMedian $184,430 · Employment 16,680
- Penetration Testers Salary in New York, NYMedian $126,910 · Employment 16,230
- Penetration Testers Salary in NCMedian $104,850 · Employment 15,090
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Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.